Running freestyle is such FUN! Give it a go......

[BTX4]

Following advice from Misstrolly on a different post today I decided to leave the podcasts, garmin and any inhibitions behind and just go and have FUN running. Fun I had

With my running music on my iPod I set off and did a real mixture...

Running as fast as I can for as long as I can.

Jogging gently then running as fast as possible.

Jogging for 20 steps then really running for 20.

Walking.

It was fantastic. I was in control of the running rather than the other way round and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

How far I went I have no idea. How fast I was I have no idea. I was running because I enjoyed it and I was in control of what I did.

I even did a little dance and some skipping en route ( when no-one was watching). Mad woman.

Try it.

[AliB1 Graduate]

That sounds like a lot of fun!!!!

[BTX4 Graduate in reply to AliB1]

It was

My knees seem to be holding up too!

[sfb350 Graduate]

Sounds great, just needs a bit of mud to make it perfect.....

[gypsydepp Graduate]

Brilliant idea!

Must try it next week ( maybe even the skipping and dancing)

[Greg_M Graduate]

I agree, it makes all the work over the last months worth it. The freedom is fantastic just to go where you want for a while, feel your body working, not having a plan before you leave....its great.

Oh and yes a bit of mud does make it perfect

[Misstrolly Graduate]

oh my, how wonderful! I can't wait for my "jolly" tomorrow x

[pitzpalu Graduate]

Wow that does sound like fun.

I will keep that idea on hold for when I finish week 9.

I`ll start compiling my free music now though.

[mair99 Graduate]

Sounds awesome... never thought to just go with it, I usually have a plan. I am definitely going to try the 'run for fun'. I must say i do enjoy nearly all my runs though and am continually surprised at what my body can do, even after years of inactivity!

[TJFlute]

I do this a lot. It's great fun heading off to the woods,.no watch. no agenda, no music no distance known run fast run slow walk jog for ages, in and out of puddles over stiles across fields.

There is a place for recording time and distance, but running can be ...just running!

[Greg_M Graduate in reply to TJFlute]

Here here!

The thing is you need to be able to run a while before you can do this kind of thing. I don't suspect there is so much satisfaction in going off piste when still at the 3 minute run stage

So like a number of people here have said this is a longer term gain and no quick fix. You need to get your body working and strong enough then it all opens out in front of you. So worth the work and investment.

When ever I doubt it I watch some of those Killian Journet videos on YouTube and whilst what he does is beyond me (for now ) just the sheer joy he has moving through the mountains like he does makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up and I doubt no more or at least not for a day or two. One day that will be me!

[BTX4 Graduate in reply to Greg_M]

Yes you are right, once you have the stamina and the confidence to know that you can run for 30 mins then all sorts of opportunities open up.

This sound a bit odd but when I really started to run I felt the acceleration and it just felt so good to be really running fast, almost easier than jogging slowly. I managed to keep going for much longer than I thought I would. It felt like I was revving my engine and taking off

Ha ha, in reality I probably looked like an overweight, red faced middle aged lady trying to run with everything wobbling up and down but in my mind I was a top of the range finely tuned Aston Martin flying up the motorway!!

Is insanity a side effect of this programme do you think?

[Deryn61 Graduate in reply to BTX4]

Love this!

[ClaireB1973 Graduate]

Ah are you sure nobody was watching you dance and skip?? hehee! Sounds like so much fun!

[Deryn61 Graduate]

I love a bit of Fartlek lol! I do a bit of a skip after my runs too, once I am sure there is no one there to witness!

[Minuette Graduate]

Wow sounds fantastic I'll be giving that a try!

[ribena-berry Graduate]

Anybody watching would have assumed you'd been on the happy-pills! But good on you!

[PatButcher Graduate]

Ha ha! Tomorrow ( hangover permitting) I am going to try this, it sounds like an excellent idea ( especially the dancing bit)!

[BTX4 Graduate]

I am planning to do another, longer one tomorrow because I enjoyed it so much.

This time I will be sharing the track with cyclists and walkers so might have to contain my dancing and skipping until I find a quiet bit

For those of you who are 'Freerunning' for the first time let me know if you enjoy it as much as I did...

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